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PlayStation 3

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The PlayStation 3 is Sony's system for gaming's seventh generation. It competes with the Wii and the Xbox 360. It is the successor to the PlayStation 2. Its successor is the PlayStation 4.

Production costs

Main article: Production costs
PS3 functionality comparison

PS3 functionality comparison

Since the system's launch, production costs have been reduced significantly as a result of phasing out the EE chip and falling hardware costs. The cost of manufacturing Cell microprocessors has fallen dramatically as a result of moving to the 65 nm production process. Blu-ray diodes are cheaper to manufacture.[1] As of January 2008, each unit costs around $400 to manufacture.[2] Sony lost $3.31B due to pricing its console below production costs.[3] iSuppli’s early analysis showed that Sony loses $306.85 per 20GB hard-drive equipped PS3 sold, not including packaging, controller or cables. The 60GB model, which has a $241.35 difference.[4][5][6][7] A new report in December 2008 by iSuppli states the PS3 now costs $448.73 to build while selling for $399 and the PS3 will probably reach the break-even point in 2009.[8] The powerful Cell processor is rumored to have cost $400 million dollars and 5 years to develop.[9] Sony takes a 10% hit on each system sold in Japan, as of March 2009.[10] PS3 manufacturing costs have been greatly reduced as of 2009.[11] Upon the release of PS3 Slim, Sony executive Kaz Hirai stated they are still losing money on hardware alone.[12]

PlayStation 3 hardware sales figures

Main article: Seventh generation of video games
Worldwide sales
Region Units sold
Worldwide 35.95 (May 2010) [13]
United States 6,790,000 (January 2009) [14]
Japan 3,093,519 (April 2009)[15]
Europe 5 million (May 6, 2008)[16]

Sony expected to sell 6 million units by the fiscal year ending in March 2007.[17] Only 3.68 million were sold, falling short of that mark.

The Japan launch was delayed from a "promised" Spring 2006 release to November due to finalization of the Blu-Ray specification.[18] Upon release in November, there were 81,639 consoles sold but only 66,684 PS3 games sold for it, meaning some consumers did not buy any games for their system and presumably used it for other entertainment purposes, such as for Blu-Ray movies.[19]

According to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the PlayStation 3 had outsold the Xbox 360 from October 2007 to May 2008 and in May 2008 it surpassed the Xbox 360 (which was released 16 months prior to the PlayStation 3) in total European sales. Microsoft disputes this.

According to Nikko Citigroup analysts, the PS3 is expected turn a profit on each console sold starting in August 2008.[20] It is not clear if this occurred.

Sony touted its 40% growth of PS3 hardware in 2008 without making a price cut.

Ps3-dev-kit-1-

PS3 devkit, costs $20,000 at launch, has since seen a 50% reduction.[21][22] Another reduction in 2009 to $2,000[23]

See also: 2009 fiscal year
PlayStation 3 hardware sales figures (based on official financial reports)[24]
Date Quarterly sales[24] Total sales (cumulative) Source
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2006) 1.68M 1.68M (1.84M shipped) [24]
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2007) 1.93 3.61 (5 million shipped) [14]
2007 fiscal year sales 3.61 million 3.61 million [24]
Quarter 1 (ending Jun 30, 2007) 0.71 4.32 [15]
Quarter 2 (ending Sep 30, 2007) 1.31 5.63 [16]
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2007) 4.90 10.53 [24]
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2008) 2.33 12.85 [17]
2008 fiscal year sales 9.24 million 12.85 million [18]
Quarter 1 (ending Jun 30, 2008) 1.56 14.41 [19]
Quarter 2 (ending Sep 30, 2008) 2.43 16.84 [20]
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2008) 4.46 21.30 [21]
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2009) 1.61 22.91 [22]
2009 fiscal year sales 10.06m 22.91 million [23]
Quarter 1 (ending Jun 30, 2009) 1.1 [24]
Quarter 2 (ending Sept 30, 2009) 3.2
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2009) 6.5
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2010) 2.2
2010 fiscal year sales 13.0
Quarter 1 (ending Jun 30, 2010) 2.4 [25]
Quarter 2 (ending Sept 30, 2010) 3.5
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2010) 6.3
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2011) 2.1
2011 fiscal year sales 14.3
Quarter 1 (ending Jun 30, 2011) 1.8 [26]
Quarter 2 (ending Sept 30, 2011) 3.7
Quarter 3 (ending Dec 31, 2011) 6.5
Quarter 4 (ending Mar 31, 2012) 1.9
2012 fiscal year sales 13.9 63.9 million
Sony stops releasing quarterly shipment figures
November 2013 ??? 80 million [25]

Sony hopes to sell 10 million PS3s for 2009 fiscal year.[27]

Sony hopes to sell 13 million PS3s for 2010 fiscal year.[28]

PlayStation 3 software sales figures

PlayStation 3 software sales figures
Year Annual software sales
(million units) 		Cumulative software sales
(million units) 		Source
FY 2006 13.3 13.3 [26]
FY 2007 57.9 71.2 [26]
FY 2008 103.7 174.9 [26]
FY 2009 115.6 290.5 [26]
FY 2010 147.9 438.4 [26]
FY 2011 156.6 595 [26]
FY 2012 153.9 748.9 [27]
Total software sales 748.9

PlayStation 3 successes and failures

Positives
  • One of the best first-generation Blu-Ray players
  • impressive graphics
  • media capabilities / entertainment center
  • 10 year lifecycle (tbd)
  • strong potential as price lowers
Negatives
  • poor launch
  • increased development complexity, time and costs
  • price point out of reach for mainstream
  • poor showing in Japan
  • PS2 backwards compatibility missing on main SKU
  • negative profit
  • SKU confusion

Best selling PS3 games

See also: Best selling games (seventh generation)
Best selling games of the seventh generation
Worldwide
Metal Gear Solid 4 4.33 million (Nov 2008)[28]
United States
Grand Theft Auto IV 1.89 million (Dec 2008)[29]
Japan
Metal Gear Solid 4 671,706 (Dec 2008)[30]
United Kingdom (as of December 2008)
Grant Theft Auto IV over 600,000[31]

PlayStation 3 games that have sold or shipped at least one million copies. (9) (not complete)

  1. MotorStorm (3.31 million) (December 2007)[32]
  2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (3 million shipped) (August 2008)[33]
  3. Grand Theft Auto IV (2.659 million) (January 2009)[34]
  4. Resistance: Fall of Man (2.5 million) (February 2008)[35]
  5. Grand Theft Auto IV (2.139 million approximately: 1.4 million in US,[186][24] 570,000 in UK,[25] 169,000 in Japan)[187])
  6. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (2.37 million shipped) (June 2008)[36]
  7. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (1.2 million) (December 2008)[37]
  8. Heavenly Sword (1 million) (May 2008)[38]
  9. MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (1 million) (December 2008)[39]
  10. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (1 million) (March 2008)[40]

Total PlayStation 3 games sold as of June 30, 2008: 94 million.[41]

United States only

  • Heavenly Sword - 386k (January 2009)[42]
  • Lair - 185k
  • Little Big Planet - 670k
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 - 1.09m
  • Motorstorm 1 - 427k
  • Motorstorm 2 - 138k
  • Resistance - 1.07m
  • Resistance 2 - 640k
  • Uncharted - 534k
  • Assassin’s Creed - 1.15m
  • Guitar Hero 3 - 830k
  • Guitar Hero World Tour - 466k
  • Mortal Kombat vs DC - 512k
  • Rock Band - 648k
  • Star Wars Force Unleashed - 464k
  • God of War 3 - 1.28m
Best selling PS3 games in Japan through January 2009 (source)
  1. Metal Gear Solid 4 - 686,254
  2. Hot Shots Golf 5 - 384,882
  3. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 - 356,266
  4. World Soccer Winning Eleven PES 2009 - 335,163
  5. Dynasty Warriors Gundam - 312,674
  6. Devil May Cry 4 - 310,012
  7. White Knight Chronicles - 300,612
  8. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III - 283,683
  9. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 - 275,069
  10. Yakuza: Kenzan! - 270,438


Sales figures tidbits

  • Europe:
    • Launch weekend: 600,000 [29]
    • June 2007: 1 million (in nine weeks) [30]
    • May 2008: 5 million [31]
  • United Kingdom:
    • Launch: 165,000 units [32]
    • June 2007: 281,977 [33]
    • September 2007: 0.4 million [34]
    • January 2008: 0.9 million [35]
    • February 2008: 1 million [36] (faster pace than PS2)
    • September 2008: 1.4 million [37]
    • January 2009: 1.9 million [38]
    • March 2009: 2.0 million [39]
  • France:
    • December 2007: 270,000 units [40]
    • January 2008: 563K [41]
    • June 2008: 800K units sold [42]
    • November 2008: 1 million PS3s sold [43]
    • January 2017:5.235 million sold[43]
  • Australia and New Zealand:
    • March 2007 (launch): 20,000 units sold [44]
    • July 2008: 285,000 units sold [45]
  • Italy:
    • December 2007: 150,000 units [46]
    • June 2008: 492.000 units sold (GfK)
    • September 2008: 632.500 units sold
  • Germany:
    • April 2007: 70,500 units sold [47]
    • August 2007: 99,500 units [48]
    • March 2008: 500,000 units (40k in March) [49][50]
  • Spain
    • October 2007: 250,000 units sold [51]
  • Canada
    • December 2007: 320,000 [52]
    • August 2008: 520,000 [53]
  • Poland
    • May 2009: 100,000[54]
  • South Africa
    • October 2014: 300,00+ [44]

Charts

See also: Category:Charts

References

  1. ↑ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ps3-profitable-by-august-say-nikko-citigroup-analysts
  2. ↑ [4]
  3. ↑ [5]
  4. ↑ [6]
  5. ↑ [7]
  6. ↑ [8]
  7. ↑ http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/046/1046046/ps3-break-august
  8. ↑ http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2008/tc20081222_257990.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_technology
  9. ↑ http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21694
  10. ↑ http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/05/15/sony_ps3_profitability/
  11. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6214569.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1
  12. ↑ http://kotaku.com/5344701/sony-losing-money-on-ps3-slim
  13. ↑ http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/63785
  14. ↑ [9]
  15. ↑ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360145
  16. ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ps3-has-outsold-xbox-360-in-europe
  17. ↑ [10]
  18. ↑ http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/NEWS/203160375/1009/BUSINESS
  19. ↑ [11]
  20. ↑ [12]
  21. ↑ [13]
  22. ↑ http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/casual-connect-sony-on-developing-for-an-open-ps2-platform/?biz=1
  23. ↑ http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22864
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 PlayStation®3 Worldwide Hardware Unit Sales (since April 2006), Sony
  25. ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/playstation3-sales-reach-80-million-units-worldwide-230771611.html
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20131014093337/www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataps3soft_sale_e.html
  27. ↑ https://www.sie.com/en/corporate/data/software_sale_2012.html
  28. ↑ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/mgs4-sells-over-4-million-copies
  29. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6203257.html
  30. ↑ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346658&page=4
  31. ↑ http://www.elspa.com/?i=3945
  32. ↑ http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-games-of-2008-playstation-3?page=0,4
  33. ↑ http://www.konami.co.jp/zaimu/0806/english/supplemental.pdf#page=4
  34. ↑ http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/npd-nintendo-drives-08-industry-sales-past-21-billion-/
  35. ↑ http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31025.html
  36. ↑ http://www.polyphony.co.jp/english/list.html
  37. ↑ http://www.gamespot.com/news/6201806.html
  38. ↑ http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2008/05/27/heavenly-sword-hits-1-million-copies-sold-on-ps3-ninja-theorys-next-game-is-a-new-action-game.htm
  39. ↑ http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/motorstorm-pacific-rift-passes-one-million-sales
  40. ↑ http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/03/05/insomniacs-ted-price-talks-ratchet-sales-surprises-new-ips/
  41. ↑ http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataps3soft_sale_e.html
  42. ↑ http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=15194802&postcount=1867
  43. ↑ http://www.gameblog.fr/news/66340-ps4-xbox-one-wii-u-3ds-ps-vita-voici-tous-les-chiffres-franc
  44. ↑ http://mygaming.co.za/news/ps4/69955-playstation-at-over-9000-in-south-africa.html

External links

News articles
Seventh generation of video games
Wii · Nintendo DS · Xbox 360 · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation Portable
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